Boris Johnson’s anti-corruption king has resigned, saying it is “quite clear” that the prime minister has violated the ministerial code over the Partygate scandal.
Conservative MP John Penrose also insisted that Johnson should step down as prime minister – just hours before the party held a no-confidence vote against his leadership.
In a scathing letter to Mr Johnson, he accused the Prime Minister of violating the code on the grounds that he had failed to secure adequate leadership over Partygate.
Mr Penrose said: “The only fair conclusion that can be drawn from Sue Gray’s report is that you have violated a fundamental principle of the Ministerial Code – a clear issue of resignation.
“But your letter to your independent adviser on the Ministerial Code completely ignores this absolutely central, unresolved issue. And if he had turned to him, it’s hard to see how he could have come to a conclusion other than breaking the code.
He added: “As a result, I fear that it will not be fair or right for me to remain as your anti-corruption activist after I came to this conclusion, nor for you to remain Prime Minister.
“I hope you will stay away so that we can look to the future and choose your successor.
His remarks came when Tory Senior MP Jeremy Hunt said he would vote for “change” after Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the Conservative Committee since 1922, announced a vote of confidence.
He said: “After being given power, Conservative MPs know in their hearts that we are not giving the British people the leadership they deserve.
“We do not offer the integrity, competence and vision needed to unleash the enormous potential of our country.
Claiming that the party is on the verge of losing the next election, he said: “Today’s decision is a change or a loss. I will vote for change. “
The former cabinet minister, who is unsuccessfully running against Mr Johnson for leadership in 2019, also said the Conservative Party must now decide “whether it wants to change the leader”.
Former Foreign Minister Jeremy Hunt says he will vote for a “change” in a no-confidence vote
(PA conductor)
“Because of the situation in Ukraine, this was not a debate I wanted to have now, but according to our rules, we have to do it.”
But in a furious response, Culture Minister Nadine Doris, one of Mr Johnson’s most loyal allies, accused the former health minister of “hypocrisy” and said that if he had won the Tory leadership race, he would “have handed over the keys to No. 10 of Corbyn.
“You did wrong about almost everything, now you’re wrong again,” she said.
“Your preparation for a pandemic during your six years as health secretary has been found to be insufficient and inadequate. Your hypocrisy at the moment in destabilizing the party and the country in order to serve your personal ambition, even more so. “
Add Comment